Tree root invigoration process

Abstract

A method for improving the rooting soil around a plant by defining an improvement area around the trunk of the plant and utilizing an air excavator to loosen the existing rooting soil in the improvement area, the method also includes treating the existing soil with a treatment to encourage growth of the plant roots in the existing treated soil.

1. A method of improving existing rooting soil around a plant comprising the steps of:
 selecting a portion of the existing rooting soil surrounding the plant as a first improvement zone;  
 loosening the existing rooting soil in the first improvement zone with an air excavator which releases compressed air at supersonic speed, to a depth of around 6 to 8 inches below ground level;  
 evaluating the existing rooting in the first improvement zone;  
 selecting and adding a first treatment into the existing rooting soil in the first improvement zone based upon the evaluation of the existing rooting, the treatment being selected from the group consisting of: organic matter, fertilizer, mycorrhizae fungi, a soil conditioner, and combinations thereof; and  
 maintaining the treated existing rooting soil within the first improvement zone.  
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 defining a critical root zone encompassing the first improvement zone;  
 defining a second improvement zone within said critical root zone;  
 loosening the existing rooting soil in one or more portions of the second improvement zone with an air excavator; and  
 adding a second treatment into the existing rooting soil in the second improvement zone, the treatment being selected from the group consisting of: organic matter, fertilizer, mycorrhizae fungi, a soil conditioner, and combinations thereof.  
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of irrigating the first improvement zone prior to loosening the existing rooting soil in one or more portions of the first improvement zone. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of loosening the existing rooting soil in the first improvement zone includes angling the air excavator at an angle of between 70° to 90° from ground level. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 2  further comprising the step of irrigating the second improvement zone prior to loosening the existing rooting soil in one or more portions of the second improvement zone. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of loosening the existing soil in said second improvement zone includes angling the air excavator at an angle of from about 70° to 90° from ground level. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 2  wherein the step of excavating the second improvement zone includes loosening the existing soil to a depth of at least 6 to 8 inches below ground level. 
   
   
     8. A method of improving a condition of existing soil around a plant to facilitate growth of the plant comprising the steps of:
 defining a first soil improvement zone that comprises a radius (r 1 ) from a center point of a trunk of the plant which is approximately 3-4 times the diameter of the trunk;  
 loosening and removing at least a portion of the existing soil in the first soil improvement zone with an air excavator, which releases compressed air at supersonic speeds, to a depth of up to 18 inches;  
 analyzing roots of the plant in the first soil improvement zone;  
 analyzing the existing soil condition in the first soil improvement zone;  
 applying a first treatment into the existing soil of the first soil improvement zone based upon the analysis of the roots and the existing soil in the first soil improvement zone, the treatment selected from the group consisting of: organic matter, fertilizer, mycorrhizae fungi, a soil conditioner, and combinations thereof.  
 
   
   
     9. The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the steps of:
 defining a second soil improvement zone that comprises a radius (r 2 ) from a center point of the trunk of the plant, the radius (r 2 ) being larger than the radius (r 1 ), the second soil improvement zone having an outer radius at least as large as a dripline of the plant;  
 loosening and removing at least a portion of the existing soil in the second soil improvement zone with an air excavator to a depth of up to 18 inches;  
 analyzing the existing soil condition in the second soil improvement zone;  
 applying a second treatment into the existing soil of the second soil improvement zone based upon the analysis of the soil in the second soil improvement zone, the treatment selected from the group consisting of: organic matter, fertilizer, mycorrhizae fungi, a soil conditioner, and combinations thereof.